After the chaotic first round of lectures came to an end.
As the dim sunset slowly faded over the palace eaves, unlike the other ministers who scattered in shock, King Heonjong continued smiling even as he returned to the palace with me.
"It seems to your liking?"
"Does it appear so?"
"With such a smile on Your Majesty's face, how could it not?"
"Indeed… then you must also know what pleases me."
"When everything is proceeding according to plan, who would not be pleased?"
The candidates had proven more capable than expected, and the efforts to sever ties with Qing and align fully with the British Empire were progressing smoothly.
Even I would have smiled in such a situation.
Still, I was curious.
Which candidate had caught his favor?
As if thinking the same, as soon as we entered his chambers, King Heonjong lowered his voice and asked,
"Did any candidate stand out to you?"
"To what extent would you like me to speak?"
"Speak freely."
"Deokwan-gun has a commendable concern for the people, but he lacks fundamental capability."
"That can be improved with effort, can it not?"
"Even considering potential, Gyeongwon-gun's ceiling is higher."
I had considered placing Deokwan-gun on the throne and controlling him through the Andong Kim clan.
But this was not the modern world.
There was no telegraph, no rapid communication.
Trying to control a king across continents would be inefficient.
And if the king were too weak, powerful clans would simply seize control instead.
A distant authority could never outweigh those nearby.
Deokwan-gun was unsuitable.
"Besides, Your Majesty already seems to have excluded him."
"…How did you know?"
"To break from Qing, Joseon must move beyond rigid Neo-Confucian order. Deokwan-gun feels too gentle to bear that responsibility."
"…You are exactly right."
Then came the real dilemma.
"But choosing between Gyeongwon-gun and Heungseon Daewongun is difficult."
A familiar problem.
Stability versus potential.
"At this point, another round of evaluation would only be formal. The real question is how much weight to place on age."
That was true.
But I knew something he did not.
The future.
Heungseon Daewongun was capable, but his successors would likely be problematic.
Still, there was no perfect answer now.
So I chose a different approach.
"Your Majesty, have you heard of Rome?"
"Rome? I have not."
"Rome was an empire in Europe, admired by all Western nations. Many rulers claimed to be its rightful successor."
"…Like a Son of Heaven in the West."
"Exactly. And interestingly, its greatest emperors were often not biological sons, but adopted heirs."
"…Adopted heirs?"
"Yes. They selected the most capable individual, adopted him, and trained him to rule. And ironically, decline began when power returned to a biological heir."
King Heonjong fell silent.
"Selecting the most capable, regardless of birth… It does not align with strict Confucian order, yet it has merit."
"Indeed. If the goal is good governance and the well-being of the people, the method can be justified."
"Joseon… resembles this Rome?"
"In some ways. A peninsula nation that endured invasions, developed its own culture, and now stands at a turning point."
"…A remarkable comparison."
"And now, even the question of succession has reached a similar moment."
The idea had taken root.
I did not need to say more.
"Then… are you suggesting Joseon could become like Rome?"
"That depends on Your Majesty's decision."
I would not claim Joseon could become another Rome.
But the precedent was enough.
"Joseon stands at a crossroads. It may rise to stand alongside the great powers of Europe, or remain a minor state under Britain's shadow."
"I understand. That is why I seek to adopt Western knowledge."
"But as you saw in the debate, Confucian order itself may limit that path. If it remains unchanged, success will be difficult."
"…That is a painful truth."
"To achieve this, the old order must be gradually reformed. Not abruptly, but steadily."
Silence followed.
Then he spoke.
"If I fail?"
"Then Britain will no longer have reason to favor Joseon."
"…Understood."
His resolve hardened.
"Then I will ensure success. I will lay the foundation before I step down. Adoption… if necessary, it will be done."
So he decided.
The method of succession itself would change.
"Such decisions must come from Your Majesty's own will."
"…Yes. Since I began this, I must see it through."
"That is the proper way."
With that, the discussion ended.
And at last...
the time had come to announce the next king of Joseon, and the method by which he would inherit the throne.